In Review: Star Wars: Rogue One – Cassian Andor (2026) #1

Synopsis: CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF ROGUE ONE! Before the heist that shook the galaxy, a lone REBEL operative walks into danger. CASSIAN ANDOR infiltrates the lawless maze of KAFRENE, racing against troopers, bounty hunters and time itself in a tense espionage thriller. Set prior to Rogue One.

The Story

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of arguably the best Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Rogue One: Cassian Andor #1 focuses on the events that take place between the end of the Disney+ TV series and the beginning of Rogue One. The story shows us what happened in the buildup to Cassian Andor’s fateful meeting with Tivik, who possesses vital information for the Rebellion.

Sent to meet Tivik in the lawless maze of Kafrene, Andor finds himself forced to navigate a dangerous encounter with a bounty hunter who has been tracking him and is secretly working for Orson Krennic. With a little help from K-2SO, who had been ordered to remain with the ship, Cassian is able to evade the bounty hunter and ultimately make contact with a panicked Tivik, who has learned about the Empire’s terrifying planet-killing weapon known as the Death Star.

Artwork

Luke Ross does a solid job with the artwork throughout the book and captures the likenesses of the characters brilliantly well. I particularly liked how well he managed to capture Daniel Mays likeness for Tivik, which is especially impressive given how brief the character’s appearance is in the story.

Ross also does a great job of recreating the vibe and atmosphere of the chaotic world of Kafrene, making the setting feel every bit as dangerous and unpredictable as it did in Rogue One. I also loved the design of the bounty hunter, who feels visually distinct while still fitting naturally into the gritty underworld aesthetic of Star Wars.

Overall

This is a solid story that brilliantly links the threads between the end of Andor and the beginning of Rogue One. The final line of the book sees Cassian saying, “It’s not my time,” after K-2SO tells him not to die, which feels especially ominous given what ultimately happens to the character. It is a small moment, but one that lands with the weight of an incoming Star Destroyer for anyone familiar with the film.

A further four comics will be released over the coming months, focusing on Jyn Erso, Saw Gerrera, Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus, as well as Darth Vader. Each issue will explore events that took place just prior to the characters appearing in the movie.

As a fan of both the film and the series, I’m really looking forward to seeing how these comics flesh out the gaps and expand the road leading into Rogue One.